Miniconf - Call for Proposals

To submit your proposal, create an account, and select Submit a Miniconf from the menu on the left hand side.

Important Dates

Miniconf CFP opened: 9 June 2014

Miniconf CFP closed: 20 July 2014

Email acceptances start Sept 2014

Early bird registrations open 23 September 2014 (TBC)

Conference dates: Monday 12 January to Friday 16 January 2015

Miniconfs run: Monday 12 January to Tuesday 13 January 2015

Information on Proposals

The linux.conf.au 2015 papers committee is looking for a broad range of proposals, and will consider submissions on anything from programming and software, to desktop, mobile, gaming, userspace, community, government, space, and education. There is only one rule:

Your proposal must be related to open source

This year, the papers committee is going to be focused on open source in education as well as our usual focus on deep technical content.

In the past, we have held miniconferences on the following topics:

Haecksen

Libré Graphics

Women in open source

Business in open source

Open source in education

Systems Administration

Audio Visual

PLUS many more

linux.conf.au is known for miniconfs that are strongly technical in nature, but proposals for presentations on other aspects of free software and open culture, such as educational and cultural applications of open source, are welcome.

Code of Conduct

linux.conf.au welcomes first-time and seasoned speakers from all free and open communities: people of all ages, genders, nationalities, ethnicities, backgrounds, religions, abilities, and walks of life. We respect and encourage diversity at our conference.

Format

Miniconfs are day-long sessions on a specific topic. As the name suggests, they are expected to be run as a miniature conference, with a formal schedule published ahead of time listing speakers and sessions for the day.

Your miniconf can have any combination of formal presentations, demonstrations, tutorials, workshops, panel discussions, or other display that you feel would be of interest to a linux.conf.au audience. The only thing we ask is that you keep it contained to your room, that you clean up afterwards, and that you ask permission of the organising committee before arranging anything potentially dangerous (such as soldering, rocketry, or anything involving flames or volatile substances).

Miniconf Organiser Information

In recognition of the value that miniconf organisers bring to our conference, once a proposal is accepted a miniconf organiser is entitled to:

Free registration for one organiser, which holds all of the benefits of a Professional Delegate Ticket

If your proposal includes more than one miniconf organiser, free registration and any extra benefits are provided to the primary organiser only.

Please note: miniconf speakers do not receive free tickets to the conference. They must purchase their own ticket in order to attend and present at your miniconf. Please communicate this clearly when inviting your potential speakers to your miniconference.

linux.conf.au does not and will not pay speakers (including miniconf speakers) to present at the conference. Similarly, miniconf organisers are not permitted to accept corporate or government sponsorship, nor are they permitted to charge an admittance fee to delegates.

linux.conf.au is able to provide limited financial assistance for some miniconf organisers, for instance, where the cost of flights or accommodation might prohibit you from attending. Please note, however, that there is a limited budget for travel assistance and that asking for assistance could affect your chances of acceptance.

Recording and Licensing

To increase the number of people that can view your miniconference, linux.conf.au might record your miniconf and make it publicly available after the event. Please ensure that your miniconf speakers will be expected to release materials relating to their presentation under a Creative Commons ShareAlike License. Additionally, if your speakers are discussing software in their presentation, the software must have an appropriate open licence.

All presentation material should be suitable for people aged 12 and above. All presentations are subject to Linux Australia's code of conduct, including that they must not contain:

About Linux Australia

Linux Australia is the peak body for open source communities around Australia, and as such represents approximately 3500 Free and Open Source users and developers. Linux Australia supports the organisation of this international Free Software conference in a different Australasian city each year.